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The iconic motorsports journalist announced a two-year agreement with the Lucas Oil-owned network during the 2nd Annual Lunch with Lucas at the 2013 PRI Show.

Renowned motor racing broadcaster Dave Despain has signed a two-year contract with MAVTV American Real to host the network's five live events, beginning with the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire on Jan. 18. He will also host a series of 30-minute, one-on-one programs titled "The Dave Despain Show" in which he'll interview drivers and other personalities from across the diverse American racing landscape.

The announcement was made during the 2nd annual Lunch with Lucas, which took place December 13, 2013, at the Indiana Convention Center, home to the 2013 PRI Trade Show, before a full house of more than 240 motorsports and automotive industry movers and shakers.

Despain, 67, said he was attracted to the burgeoning independent network owned by Forrest Lucas by the opportunity to return to working at the race track and hosting his own show.

"I'm really excited to get back to the grassroots of racing," Despain said. "And I'm also excited about being able to do a series of long-form interviews, the majority of which will feature the legends of grassroots racing. We'll try to mix it up and have an interesting variety of personalities from all over the racing world.

"When Lucas bought MAVTV, I thought maybe it would be a good place to be somewhere down the road," he added. "Did I want to retire or do another deal that was interesting, fun and exciting? MAVTV offered me an opportunity to kind of get back to where I started.

"People assume that if you're in the racing scene, you're at the track all the time," he concluded. "In reality, doing a Sunday night studio race show, you're not ever at the racetrack. I missed that. There's nothing like being face-to-face with a person. I like hosting a lot. It plays into what I consider my strength, being able to place an event in a larger picture context. There are stories I'm anxious to tell."

MAVTV American Real President Bob Patison, also the Executive Vice President of Lucas Oil, said he found the perfect fit for the network's racing expansion. "We brought in an icon," Patison said. "Dave is probably the best known face and voice in motor racing on television."

The Chili Bowl is an indoor event for midget race cars with about 275 entries in Tulsa, Okla. The network will also broadcast live the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series' East Bay Late Model Nationals from Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 15, the Show Me 100 (Late Models) from Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., on May 24, the Late Model Nationals from Knoxville, Iowa, on Sept. 27, the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup (Short Course Off Road) from Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Oct. 18, and many more live events.

Master of ceremonies Ken Stout hosted the 60-minute long Lunch with Lucas program presented by Protect The Harvest. The program included video presentations with introductions to the leaders of the successful Team Lucas series highlighting Off Road Racing, ASCS, Drag Boats, Pro Pulling and Late Model Dirt, in addition to Lucas-owned motorsports properties. Stout followed the Team Lucas backgrounder with a detailed description of the explosive growth experienced by both Lucas Oil Studios and MAVTV during the past year.

Lucas Oil Products, Inc. founder and Chairman Forrest Lucas welcomed PRI back to the world center of motorsports and emphasized Lucas Oil, Lucas Oil Studios and MAVTV's commitment to continue to grow grassroots motorsports across the US.

"Motorsports marketing has been a key to the success and growth of Lucas Oil through the years," Lucas said. "For 2014, we will continue to expand our investments in the industry through more event, team and driver sponsorships, sanctioned series, new venues, new productions from Lucas Oil Studios and especially MAVTV."

Patison thanked Forrest Lucas and Lucas Oil's continuing investment in the rapidly growing national network. "Using the principles and marketing strategy that built Lucas Oil into the powerhouse that it is today, we are building MAVTV into a major force in US television with its roots deep in the automotive world by offering an exciting slate of new shows and series hosted by top talent and high profile live events," Patison said.